Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-09
KENT CLUB LECTURE.
'Edmund Kfrke', Tells the Inside History Of the Peace Commission oi

"Edmund Kirke', Tells the Inside
 History Of the Peace Commission of
 '64-A Highly Interesting Lecture.
 Many people will regret that owing to the nasty preparations and insufficient notice they missed hearing MT. J. R. Gilmore's ac- count of the inside history of the peace commission of 1864. By means of this com mission, said MT. Gilmore, an honorable surrender and suspension of hostilities was offered to the seeding States, which was refused, thereby prolonging the war and forcing the South into continuation of the deadly struggle, which only resulted in an unconditional surrender after two years more of fighting. MT. Gilmore, who is better known to the reading public as t'Edmund Kirke," was prominent figure in all the preliminary movements, and was chosen by President Lincoln to present to Jefferson Davis the final terms upon which peace could
 be declared. He is therefore thoroughly
 conversant with all the details, and much of
 the substance of his lecture before the Kent
 club last night has never been published
 It will form the basis of an arti-
 cle to be published in the next
 issue of the Atlantic Monthly. The lecturer
 said that in 1863 he was on visit to Gener-
 al Rosecrans, under whose command there
 was a colonel of Illinois infantry named
 Jacques, who before the war had been a
 prominent preacher in the Methodist church
 and had been we'll acquainted with President
 Lincoln. He thought that by working upon
 the Methodist element in the South he might
 bring influences to bear upon the Confeder-
 ate government which would bring about the
 suspension of hostilities and then return to
 allegiance to the Union. He appliedto Gen.
 eral Rosecrans and MT. Gilmore to use
 their influence with the Presi-
 attempt, and MT. Gilmore went to Washing
 ton for this purpose. The President consent
 ed on condition that Colonel Jacques should
 make the attempt on his own responsibility,
 and without color of authority from the gov
 ernment. The scheme for various reasons
 proved abortive, but it planted the idea that peace was possible in the minds of those in authority and led to the sending of MT. Gill more and Colonel Jacques to, Jefferson Davis with definite conditions of peace. The Pres ident was in favor of peace upon any honor able terms which would insure the lition of slavery, in fact he personally favored the payment of any reasonable sum to the shareholders for the liberation of their slaves, although he knew that this was not in sympathy with the feeling of the North at that time on this matter. He was willing to be liberal in collateral points if the main issues were preserved. The conditions, as drafted by the President, were as follows:
 l. The immediate dissolution of the Confederate government and the disbandment of the army and their return 10 their allegiance to the United States
 2 Slavery to be perpetually abolished through 3. A general amnesty and restoration to citizen
 4. All acts of secession to be regarded utilities and representation to the central government to be based on the voting population.
 $500 GOO 900 to be distributed the slave holding States to be used to reimburse both loyal value of their Slaves in 1sso, and nnexpended bal ance to be returned to the national government
 6: A national convention to be at once called to ratify these conditions.
 z. These propositions shall be construed to mean the full restoration of the Union except that slaves shall be freemen.
 Secretary Chase, who was in consultation with the President and MT. Gilmore, object ed to the fifth section and the amount to be paid shareholders was cut down to four hundred millions in difference to his wishes. Armed with these and pass through the lines from the President, Messrs. Gilmore and Jacques proceeded, not slout difficulty and danger, to Richmond where they met lief ferson Davis and his Secretary of State, Judah P. Benjamin. Mr. Davis refused to consider any proposition which did not include the of the independence of the Con- By this refusal he incurred the onus of the continuation of the war, and by his insane obstinacy deprived the people of the South of an advantageous and honorable solution of the problem. If it had been ac- cepted the South would have been in better financial position than the North, the revolt ed States would have been saved the agonies of reconstruction and all vexed questions would have been settled and much bloodshed averted. Mr. Gilmore laid the entire blame upon Jeff Davis. His refusal convinced the peace party at the North that peace could only bs secured with the bayonet, and this fact was of political importance in the cleo tion of President Lincoln to 6 second term. The speaker held the attention of his audience throughout, and related many anecdotes of the martyr President which were appropriate and witty, beside many amusing incidents which to himself at different times before and during the war.
 The next lecture in the Kent club course will be delivered March 18th by Professor Francis Wayland, dean of the Law school. The subject is "Mexico."